Children Spell Love As T-I-M-E, Not Money Or Gifts — Child Advocate Dr. Serwaa Warns Parents

Suame-Ashanti  Renowned child advocate, Dr. Serwaa, has issued a passionate appeal to parents to prioritize presence over presents in raising their children, warning that lack of parental attention is exposing many children to abuse and emotional neglect.

Dr. Serwaa, who was speaking at Suame Municipality, described as a profound truth the saying that children spell love as T-I-M-E and not money or gifts.

According to her, the message is a critical warning that every parent, especially those working long hours in demanding environments such as markets, needs to hear.

She observed that many parents work from 4:00 a.m. until late at night to provide financially for their children, believing that new toys, clothes, or money can make up for their absence.

“The reality is that material gifts only bring temporary excitement. A child will completely forget the price of their shoes, but they will never forget the empty feeling of having no one to talk to, laugh with, or tuck them into bed,” she stated.

Dr. Serwaa further warned that parental absence opens the door to abuse, noting that abuse rarely happens out of nowhere but builds up over time when a child’s emotional defences are stripped away.

“When parents are entirely absent or too exhausted to listen, children suffer from a lack of motherly or fatherly love. Predators look for neglected, lonely children who are starving for attention.

If a child knows their parent doesn’t have 15 minutes to listen to them, they will stop trying to talk. They become easy targets because they feel completely unprotected,” she cautioned.

She also advised parents against shutting children up or dismissing them when they attempt to share their problems, fears, or unsettling encounters.

According to her, calling a child a liar or stubborn when they try to speak completely breaks their trust and teaches them that their voice does not matter and that their home is not a safe zone.

Dr. Serwaa stressed the need for parents to give their children undivided attention, validate their concerns, and make them feel safe enough to share anything.

While acknowledging that making a living is necessary, she said parents must find a balance between work and home, emphasizing that no amount of market profit is worth losing a child’s safety, future, or soul.

“Even 15 to 30 minutes of intentional, undistracted communication every single day can alter the course of a child’s life,” she added.

She urged parents, guardians, and the general public to make time for their children and create safe spaces for open communication at home.